Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
December 30, 2016

Klay Thompson scored 12 of his 21 points in Golden State’s 42-point first quarter on Wednesday, which propelled the Warriors to a 121-111 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Despite seeing a seven-game road winning streak end, the Raptors experienced a historic moment when DeMar DeRozan became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Chris Bosh with the 15th of his team-high 29 points.

DeRozan, currently in his eighth NBA season, finished the game with 10,290 career points, 15 more than Bosh, who played his first seven seasons for Toronto.

Kyle Lowry recorded a 27-point, 11-assist double-double, and Terrence Ross dropped in 24 points off the bench, but it was not nearly enough firepower .

Kevin Durant had a 22-point, 17-rebound double-double, and Stephen Curry poured in 28 points for the Warriors, who were coming off a 109-108 loss at Cleveland on December 25.

The Warriors’ win was never seriously in doubt after they buried nine of their first ten shots en route to a 22-4 lead just 4:41 into the game. Thompson connected on a pair of three-pointers and eight points in all during the burst.

Durant and Curry also hit three-pointers in the flurry.

The Raptors rallied within five in the second quarter on the strength of 13 points from Lowry and 12 from Ross.

Golden State countered with a 14-2 run to finish the half, getting a pair of three-pointers from Durant while pushing the advantage back to 72-55 before the intermission.

Toronto closed within ten in the third quarter and then to 114-109 with 3:01 to play with a 15-2 run capped by a DeMarre Carroll layup.

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony looks to shoot while guarded by Atlanta Hawks guard Malcolm Delaney (5) during the first half at Philips Arena.

However, Carroll and Ross misfired on three-pointers with a chance to cut the deficit to two, and Curry, fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound, hit a pair of free throws with 2:04 to go, extending the lead to 116-109.

In Atlanta, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, was ejected for a flagrant foul during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday as tempers flared again in the National Basketball Association.

The nine-times All-Star was given his marching orders in the second quarter for hitting Atlanta’s Thabo Sefolosha in the head with his right hand as they jostled anticipating a rebound.

Anthony did not speak to the media afterwards, but Sefolosha pulled no metaphorical punches.

“He punched me,” the Swiss said, according to ESPN. “That was a fist right to my face.”

The Hawks beat the Knicks 102-98 in overtime.

It was the second ejection this season for Anthony, the previous coming against the Boston Celtics on November 11.

Anthony’s ejection came after a spiteful game on Tuesday between Houston and Dallas finished with eight flagrant fouls called.

In other games last night Pacers went under to Wizards 105-111, Hornets beat the Magic 120-111, Bucks trashed the Pistons 119-94, Nets lost to the Bulls 99-101, Clippers were defeated by the Pelicans 98-102, Suns were overcome by the Spurs 98-119, Timberwolves could not manage the Nuggets 103-105, and the Kings were demolished by the Trailblazers 89-102.